That is absolutely gorgeous. I am trying to finalize my backsplash and hope that I can find something similar. I like both colors. I think the top one(assuming amber) pulls in the sink as well as the cabinets. The darker one pulls in the countertop nicely. You will be happy with either one.
I was ogling Motawi tile (hand made in Ann Arbor) but decided that it was too much with my countertops, cabinets and floor - but may look at some of your tiles. (Motawi is $100-300 sq foot but all hand made).
Can't wait to see your finished pics!
PS I also have trouble visualizing things as my friends know!

a2gemini ... thanks for the help!! Trust me, I have been agonizing over this waaay tooo long, but once it's done, it's done AND if I don't like it, then I'm sunk :(

The amber one (really is the darker of the two) does match the orange/amber color in the granite; but the Morrell (a funny color, mixing brown w/green) picks up the undertones of the granite (and their is some green in there).

Are you In Michigan??? I am, so I have heard about the Motawi tile. Another good MI tile is Pewabic (made in Detroit). And a tile I considered, but didn't pursue, is by an Ohio company called: Epro Tiles .... they are gorgeous too with that handmade look. And I'm sure they're not as costly as either Motawi or Pewabic.

Do look at the Encore Ceramic website. I am going to post a link of a website of theirs. I don't know *how* I found it, as it doesn't easily come up in a google search, but find it I did, and I think it has more info than their regular website.

Thanks again!!!

jody

Here is a link that might be useful: Another website for Encore Ceramics

None of the above. More isn't better. Sometimes it's too much, and you've already got too much going on. You don't need sparkle at all with the with those cabinets and that granite. Keep the larger tile all around your arch area and use the small subway in the arch and that's it. Adding in another type of tile, especially a sparkly one, with all of the pattern you have going on is the chocolate covered raspberry on top of the cherry on top of the whipped cream on top of the chocolate syrup on top of the banana split.

live wire .... Thanks for your honesty. I NEVER even gave that a thought. But I will now! All along, I've wanted some *sparkle* in the BS and had originally thought of a tone-on-tone, using simply a wheat-colored glass tile in the arch. Which would simply blend in with the field tile. And then I decided I wanted something with a little more sparkle.

The thing I want, is the ARCH. I just love that architectural element. My two (new) doors on each side of these cabinets have an arched top and our front door has the arch also.

Thanks again and I will give serious thought to your idea.

If anyone else has any thoughts on live wires idea, PLEASE jump in and let me know!!

thanks ;)
jody

I agree with LWO. You already have too many shapes and flourishes going on and it doesn't match up with the rest of your kitchen at all. I especially dislike the transition between the large tile and the small subway. It's jarring and there is no logical reason to set the sink section apart that much. The arch is enough. Simplify what's there. Use either the small subway or the large tile for the entire field and then use the other for the arch section. If you really really love the sparkly tile, use it for the liner instead of that floral tile that is too over the top too.

But personally, I'd like to see some actual COLOR in your backsplash. The WHOLE backsplash. Not just an "accent".

I'd do all large tiles for the bs and inside the arch and use the small jewel ones to line around the arch's opening.
BTW - does it have to be an actual arch? I see a rectangular opening working better with your cabs....

For what it's worth, I'm surprised that the plain white ceramic tile in my backsplash sparkles. Your field tile might provide some sparkle for you. I agree with the others that you should avoid getting too busy with the design.

live wire .... seriously *thinking* about your ideas.

hollysprings ... I am already re-thinking the row of 2x3 subways across the bottom and the 1.25" liner. I just saw a pix today (in a magazine I'm sure), that showcased 6x6 tiles from the bottom of the counter up and I thought to myself, gee, I really like the simplicity of that.

dianalo ... I ONE thing I really want is the arch. My door kitchen doors have the arch as does my front door. The cabinets were hand made by my father 32 yrs. ago, an do need *something* done to the finish. Don't quite know what yet. But I am re-thinking this BS.

I DO SO appreciate all your thoughts/ideas. And IF you clicked on the pics and some the wording, I used a few times, the term *kitchen designer* ~ well, that was in error. I meant to say, the experienced sales ladies at the tile showroom. They are very good with color; however, ALL I asked their opinion of, was what tile for the insert of the arch. The rest I did myself.

And I'm going to *try* to do another mockup. I changed computers in June and can't seem to find the original with the old tiled BS (which was SO easy to draw on ~ 1x1 grid) .... I'll post tomorrow what I come up with.

Keep the ideas coming .... I'm learning a lot here ;)

jody

mcmjilly .... sorry I didn't see your post when I posted above.

If you have a pix of your BS, I would LOVE to see it!!!

I am starting to really see I need to simplify this design. I fell in love with the Jeffrey Court tiles after seeing them in a BS in a granite showroom. They used the BS with off-white cabinets and golden beach granite.

However, their backsplash pattern was as follows (bottom up): 2x3s (set vertically) ~ the 1.25" liner ~ and the 6x6's set on a diagonal with 1x1 sparkly tiles in 4-spots (diamond like) about every 5-6 feet. Hope that makes sense.

The Jeffrey Court field tile matches my granite so well, I thought I could just *tweak* this BS design from what I saw in the showroom. Run the 2x3's horizontally, use the liner and set the 6x6's block style ~ but I added the arched area.

Soooo, I'm going to look for the pix of the *simple 6x6* BS I saw in a mag. today and see what I come up with.

Everyone .... PLEASE keep ideas/critiques coming.

thanks!!

jody

Ok..so the arch does have a few partners in your house, so that is good.
I can see the little sparkly 1 x 1s as the outline for the arch. If you want some more bling, you could use the longer pieces for the liner you mentioned. Bringing the sparkly tiles forward and out of the niche, will help keep your faucet as a noticeable item and would help them catch light better. If they are deeper in the recess, their special properties will be less visible.

OK, I have given very serious thought to everyone's ideas and will be scrapping the idea of using the 2x3 subways across the bottom and the liner.

And you know what, I REALLY like that idea ;) I have redrawn (by hand) the BS using the 6x6's with the arch and subway tiles. It looks kinda goofy, as it is drawn from a pix, and the walls are primed white and I used a brown pen to draw .... keep in mind, the grout will be a cream color to match the tiles.

I have also taken a pix using the 5 6x6 tiles I have lined up behind the sink. Not missing the 2x3 border at all ~ THANKS!!

Again, your opinions are welcomed ;)

jody

I like it a lot better. You might also look at doing the 6x6's on the diagonal. Your kitchen has such straight square cabinets that more horizontal and vertical lines might look better broken up with diagonal ones. What tile are you planning on using to outline the arch?

haven't read all that is posted..the eye is drawn to the arch-the faucet is nice in foreground, but plain subways in there? can you go to a really good tile store and get something to place in with hand painted tiles.. botanical theme-I see a tree, artist painted on matte tile, or something with a nature scape.In Mich, Virginia Tile has some hand made tiles with nature themes.They mentionned once that you can select your background colors, etc-they are in contact with the tile maker.Look for something interesting and special, you've worked so hard on your kitchen. A raised relief would work there, which would make a choice even more fun.

hollysprings ... I had originally wanted the 6x6's set on the diagonal, but I only have about 15 1/2 - 16" between the counter and top of the lower cabinets and when you turn the 6x6's on end, they are like 8 1/2" (not 6" any more) and I don't think I'd have room for that.

Jeffrey Court does make a thin liner I could use around the arch, it's 3/4 " x 8 " ... I'll try and attach the pix of this. It is the second one in this pix.

I am going to talk to the tile place and see if she thinks it would be too much to put the Morrell Encore tile in the arch, but use 2"x2" tiles, instead of the 1x1 ~ would make it a LOT less busy looking. I still like the idea of a little *sparkle* in the kitchen.

And after looking at the last pics I sent ... you guys must think I am trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!!! lol In those pics, the cabinets look awful .... you really don't notice the graining of the Oak as much in person, the pics seem to magnify it.

That being said, I WILL BE doing *something* to the finish in the spring. Either a gel stain (to darken a little); or paint ~ have been reading about the Anne Sloan Chalk Paint and that interests the heck out of me. I have emailed one retailer, and she said this paint (with 2-3 coats of their wax), is an EXCELLENT choice for cabinets. We'll see .... that'll be a whole other posting!!

The liner I am HOPING will work, is the second one down, the 3/4" one. It is a much simpler design than the one I originally wanted.

I so appreciate everyone's feedback on this project ~ which is driving me crazy!!!

Thanks again .... and once again, ALL comments are welcomed!!!

jody

When looking at your pix, it makes me wonder what color grout you plan on using. I am seeing your mock up with dark grout and that is what is making it look busy. I'd try for something close to the tile's color.
If the 6 x 6s do not work on the diagonal for your space, would 4 x 4s possibly fit?

herbflavor ... thanks for the BS idea. I love the idea of a painted scene behind the sink, but I'm sure I would get tired of whatever it was in a year or two and then be *stuck* with it!!! And I have been to Virginia Tile (in Troy) .... that is one great tile showroom. They have so many wonderful tile ideas there .... just wish it were a little closer (about 2 hrs. away).

dianalo .... yeah, the pix looks *funny* with the darker lines. The grout will match the tiles. And I am pretty sold on *this* particular tile. The color works with the granite and I love the crackle and the fact that some of the edges are misshapen ~ kinda like handmade tiles. This tile only comes in 6x6 ... and I think 4x4's might look too busy. I really think the ideal size is 5x5 and I have found a few of them, but absolutely NO companion pieces.

I am still hoping to use the sparkly glass .... and when I say sparkly, I don't mean iridescent ... these tiles have a wonderful crackle depth to them and are so pretty. I will be anxious to see what the ladies in the tile store have to say. They are VERY good with colors and such.

jody